Bulkhead-door.



H. H.; THAYER, JB.

BULKHEAD DOOR. 211110411011 FILED JUNE .'s. 1914.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

lllvlllllll WIr/M3555.-

maya; B v

y um.

lfm/iwan HORACE H. THAYER, JR., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

BULKHEAD-DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914:.

Application filed .Tune 3, 1914. Serial No. 842,615.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Hormon H. THAYER, J r., a citizenof thcUnited States, residing at Vilmington, county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful improvement in Bulkhead-Doors, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. v

The object' of the invention is to provide a special arrangement of double door for ships bullnheads, to provide a special construction for hinging the same, and to provide means for determining from a distant point whether the doors are closed tight.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front View; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. l,V and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The bulkfhead a is cut away to provide a door-way for the double doors. Along the edge of the bulk-head are secured angle bars b, b, these angle bars presenting alining faces forming the top, bottom and end walls of the space between double doors.

YThe doors c, o, are similar in construction to each other and each Adoor is similar in construction along its four edges. Specically, along each edge of the body of each door is secured an inside plate al which eX- tends slightly beyond the edge of the door body and an outside flanged plate e which extends considerably beyond the edge of the door body, and between the edge of the door body and the flange of the plate e is confined a gasket f which engages the outwardly projecting edge of the corresponding angle bar b. This construction is carried all the way around the door-way, that is, along its upper, lower andside edges, and operates to make the doors fluid-tight. Handles g for opening the doors are secured to the plates e.

The handles of the two doors are arranged opposite to each other, that is, are arranged adjacent to corresponding upright edges of the two doors. The two doors areVv hinged i at their opposite side edges. Each dooris hinged to the bulk-head and wall in the following manner. A hinge h has one leaf secured to the door and the other leaf secured to, and between the ends of, a leaf spring z'. The free end of the leaf springextends along the outside of the first-named leaf of the hinge and thence extends inwardly and presses against the door. The other end of the leaf spring is secured to the bulk-head. The construction is such as to permit the springs of both doors of a pair to be secured to the bulk-head by the same rivets j.

Extending through the door-way into the space between the doors is a pipe k, on which (either near the double-door or at a point distant therefrom) is placed a gage m, the pipe being connected with a vacuum chamber or pump n. After a partial vacuum is established within f the space between the doors, any failure of the doors to maintain a tight closure will cause a leakage of air into the space and will be disclosed by the gage. The same means will also tend, without other means, to maintain the doors tightly closed, or, in conjunction with other means, to maintainthe doors closed more tightly.

0 is a three-way valve on the pipe 7c, by means of which connection between the vacuum pump and space between the doors may be cut off if desired and said space brought into communication with the atmosphere. Y

Alternatively, n can be assumed to be a device for compressing air within the space between the doors. Such pressure would have to be sufficient to count-erbalance any .possible outside pressure. Any pressure means, such, for example, as that which is in common use-for the air brakes of trolley cars, can be used, the motor or engine operating automatically whenever the pressure in the space between the doors is reduced below a certain point, and its operation, as. well as the gage, willindicate the opening of a door or the presence of some foreign substance preventing tight closure of the door, or some defect in the door.

The double door herein described is so constructed or set 11p that a pressure on either side, or on both sides, `of the bulkhead cannot open them, but, on the other hand, such pressure will tend to close all` the more tightly the door to which the pressure is directly applied. The opening of both doors along the same edge of the doorway facilitates the passage of the operator from one side t0 the other of the bulk head when such passage is necessary, and'simplies the hinge construction.

The drawing and description of the preferredconstruction of the double door einbodying my invention includes details which may be varied by the skilled constructor and these details are unnecessary to the invention eXcept where they are included in the claims. y

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Let-V ters Patent is- 1. In a door for partitions, a partit-ion having an opening providing a door-Way, two doors closing the door-way and hielosing between them a space, and means connected with said space; to regulate the air pressure therein. i

2. In a door for partitions, a partit-ion provided with an opening, two doors for said opening and means for creating a partial vacuum between them to maintain them closed.

3. In .a door for partitions, a partition havingan opening providing a door-way, two doors closing the door-way and inclosing between them a space, a pipe communicating with said space, means connected with the pipe to produce a partial vacuumV within said space, and means to determine the pressure therein. Y 4. In a door for partitions, a vpartition provided with an opening,`twoidoors for said opening, gaskets against which said doors are adapted to press, and means for creating a partial vacuum between said doors, thereby causing the doors to press against their gasket-s. Y

5. In a door for` partitions, a partition provided with an opening, two doors for said opening and means for creating a partial vacuuin between them to maintain them closed, and ineans'for destroying said vacuum at will.

6. In a door for partitions, a` partition supporting the hinge and secured at one end to the other of said elements, the other lfree end of the spring pressing against the iirst element.

8. In Va door for partitions, a partition having an ope-ning providing a door-way, a

door, a hinge secured to the door, and a spring secured to and carrying the hinge 'andsecured to and carried by the partition.

9. In a door for partitions, a partition having an opening providing a door-way, La door, a hinge one leaf of which is secured to the door, and a leaf spring secured :at one end to the partition and between its ends to the other leaf of the hinge andhaving a free end engaging the door.

10. In a door for partit-ions, a Vpartition vhaving an opening providing a doorway zforming the top, bottom and ends of an inl closedj door space, two doors spaced apart' arid forming the sides of the inclosed door space, Vhinges secured to the respective doors on the jsame side of the door-way, leaf springs secui'ed to and supporting the respective fhinges and having free ends engaging the respective doors, the opposite ends of the leaf springs being secured to the partition di- .'rectiy opposite each other.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on :Ethis 29th .day of May, 1914:.

HORACE H. THAYER, JR. Y

Witnesses:

M. M. HAMiL'roN. E. E. WALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

